My family and I go crazy over my homemade granola. When you add our love of chocolate into the mix, it reaches addiction. Yes, this dairy-free, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free chocolate granola is just that good.
Chocolately, perfectly sweetened, and balanced with some Himalayan salt, this chocolate granola puts store-bought ones to shame. What I love most about this granola is that you can dress it up and down. Want to make it more like a dessert? Add in some dark chocolate chips. Want to make it heartier? Throw in some hemp seeds for extra protein.
Besides this chocolate granola’s mind-blowing taste, what really makes it superior are its ingredients. Let’s check them out!
- Cocoa vs. Cacao: You’re probably thinking, Aren’t those the same things? I was equally as confused. However, cocoa is made by cold-pressing unroasted cocoa beans, keeping the enzymes and removing the fat (cacao butter). It’s supposedly healthier than cacao, which has been roasted at high temperatures, therefore denaturing the enzymes.
- Chia seeds: They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help raise the “good” cholesterol HDL, fight inflammation, and lower blood pressure. Chia seeds are high in linoleic acid, a fatty acid that helps the body absorb fat-soluble A, D, E, and K.
- Pumpkin seeds: These seeds have high levels of magnesium, which contributes to the creation of ATP (energy molecules in your body). They also have Omega-3 fats, which are the “good” fats.
- Coconut sugar: Yes, sugar is sugar, but it is a better alternative sweetener – it has trace elements such as iron, zinc, and calcium. Coconut sugar has a glycemic index of 35 (rather low), while table sugar is 60. The glycemic index is “a system that ranks foods on a scale from 1 to 100 based on their effect on blood-sugar levels.”
- Almonds: Almonds are rich in healthy fats, fiber, protein, magnesium and Vitamin E. They have been shown to lower blood sugar levels, reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
- Himalayan salt: It’s said to be one of the most beneficial and purest salt available in the world. It has 84 minerals and trace elements – calcium, magnesium, potassium, copper, and iron. Since table salt is very processed, its minerals are eliminated.
Enjoy!
- 2½ cups gluten-free oats
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- ¼ sliced almonds (can be raw or lightly toasted)
- 1½ tbsp coconut sugar
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- 3 tbsp chia seeds
- ¼ cup grapeseed oil
- ⅓ cup honey (for vegans, swap with maple syrup)
- 2 tsp Himalayan salt
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.
- Mix all ingredients together, and taste it (you might want to add more honey, chia seeds, etc).
- In parchment paper lined pan, press the granola evenly.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes. At the 30 minute mark, sprinkle some Himalayan salt on the granola, and continue baking.
- Let it cool for 20 minutes. Then, break it apart into smaller pieces.
- Put it in a glass jar!
Sources
https://draxe.com/almonds-nutrition/
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/glycemic-index